Chapter 399: The Cat and You Both Want to Know
"Your skewers and mantis shrimp, and the Pure Rye Lager—please enjoy."
Ping Xinyan's guess was right. Yue Lengxin's dishes didn't need her to carry them out herself—her boss had once again gotten so busy he lost track of everything.
Stealing a glance at Yue Lengxin's slender, scallion-white hands, Qi Han coughed lightly. "Be careful when peeling the mantis shrimp—the shells are sharp."
"Thank you." Yue Lengxin had, of course, noticed his little gesture. Her beautiful eyes blinked once as she replied softly.
"You're welcome." Qi Han's lips curved faintly as he turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
Resting her cheek on one hand, Yue Lengxin watched him disappear into the kitchen for a moment, but her attention was soon drawn back by the aroma wafting up from the table.
All the grilled food was placed on a single large platter, neatly separated by type so that nothing would get mixed up. Beside it was another long serving tray, on which six mantis shrimps—each nearly as long as a forearm—were laid in a tidy row. A layer of salt and pepper was sprinkled evenly across their shells. The translucent brownish shells gleamed faintly under the light, the jagged barbs on their surfaces giving off a slightly menacing look.
'So this is salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp? No wonder he warned me to be careful when peeling them.'
Looking at the spiny shells, Yue Lengxin couldn't help recalling Qi Han's earlier reminder. A small, unnoticeable smile tugged at her lips.
Then her gaze drifted toward her glass of Pure Rye Lager.
The beer was a deep brown color, resembling cola at first glance. It was served in a thick transparent mug, its base as wide as a bowl, and a sturdy handle on the side. A dense layer of creamy white foam piled high above the rim, while a faint malty fragrance rose slowly from the drink—tempting her to take a sip just to see what it tasted like.
'Let's see how it tastes.'
Looking at the array of food before her, Yue Lengxin finally reached for a slender bamboo skewer from the barbecue platter.
At the end of the skewer was a small piece of light-brown lamb.
'So this is the lamb skewer?'
She blinked. She'd already seen the photo of this "mini lamb skewer" on the menu, but seeing it in person still surprised her.
These petite Hunan-style skewers looked quite different from the large grilled skewers she was used to—there was something almost delicate about them.
She rarely ate barbecue outside; it wasn't that she disliked it, but the large skewers were cumbersome and inelegant—hardly something a lady could eat gracefully. She'd only indulge in them at home, where she could relax.
But these tiny skewers were a different story. One bite was all it took. Convenient, tidy, and unexpectedly charming.
Just a single glance, and she was already taken with them.
As she brought the skewer closer to her nose, the details of the lamb became clearer.
The lightly browned meat was dusted evenly with cumin, the golden-brown powder seeping into the juices released during grilling, deepening the color further. A few specks of red chili powder were scattered on top—not too much, just enough to make it look enticing.
A rich wave of cumin fragrance rose up, carried by the meat's own savory aroma, intertwining with the faintly gamy scent of lamb. The combination, laced with the faint spiciness of chili, made her unconsciously swallow.
She'd never been fond of the strong smell of lamb; when it was too gamey, she often found it hard to eat.
But the unique scent of this small skewer wasn't unpleasant at all. On the contrary—the more she smelled it, the more her appetite stirred.
Unable to resist, Yue Lengxin took a bite.
The tender meat seemed to burst open in her mouth, flooding it with rich flavor. The juicy, melt-in-the-mouth texture danced with every chew, while the aroma filled her senses completely—a perfect blend of cumin, chili, and grilled fat.
After swallowing, her eyes gleamed brighter. Setting down the empty skewer, she couldn't help but reach for the next one—this time, a small beef skewer.
Taking another bite and chewing for a moment, a look of satisfaction appeared on Yue Lengxin's face.
The beef was darker in color than the lamb, and unlike the lamb's tenderness, it had a firmer, more elastic texture. The flavor, too, was distinct—rich in its own way.
Whether it was the lamb skewers or the beef skewers, both were absolutely delicious.
'Let's try something else.'
Thinking that, Yue Lengxin's gaze moved away from the little skewers on the platter and shifted toward the only barbecue item that wasn't skewered—the charcoal-grilled Pacific saury.
When she saw the fish, split open from the middle and spread flat on the plate, its backbone and tiny ribs neatly removed, the whole body nearly as long as her forearm, her eyes showed a hint of surprise.
'I don't think I've ever eaten this kind of fish before… I wonder if it has small bones inside?'
Yue Lengxin liked fish, as long as there weren't too many tiny bones. If the flesh was filled with them, she found it troublesome and hard to enjoy.
With that thought, she picked up a pair of chopsticks and carefully reached toward the saury.
Because it was spread open, the pale white flesh of the belly side had been grilled into a light brown shade, while the silvery-gray outer skin had turned golden under the flame. Both sides of the fish were brushed evenly with a dark brown sauce, and a fine dusting of Japanese pepper powder glimmered on top.
With only the gentlest pressure of her chopsticks, she heard a faint crisp sound—a small piece of fish came loose from the body, the crispy skin clinging to it. At the same time, a rich seafood aroma mixed with a faint hint of lemon wafted from the open spot, drifting straight into her nose.
When she brought the piece of saury to her lips and took a small bite, the flavor burst open instantly—the savory sauce perfectly fused with the fish's natural briny sweetness, creating a new and delightful taste.
The saury's tender flesh carried a subtle sweetness beneath its freshness, while the lemon juice cut away any bitterness, leaving only a clean, bright tang. The gentle heat of the pepper powder added a pleasant tingle, and the blend of flavors made this bite of fish extraordinarily delicious. The crispy skin and the lightly charred surface of the flesh blended with the soft, juicy interior—the textures melting together in her mouth.
Crunch
As she enjoyed the rich flavor and perfect texture—and realized there wasn't a single bone to worry about—surprise bloomed on Yue Lengxin's face. After swallowing that bite, she eagerly picked up another.
"The saury is amazing!"
She couldn't help but glance toward the kitchen, where a certain someone was still busy at work.
'How does he always manage to cook food that tastes this good…?'
…
"The flavor of saury~"
Qi Han hummed leisurely as he grilled another fish, singing a tune that Ye Lingqing, who was helping beside him, had never heard before. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
'Wait— didn't she order saury too?'
At that, he instinctively lifted his head and looked toward Yue Lengxin's table. Their eyes met for a brief second in midair—both showing a flicker of surprise.
When Yue Lengxin quickly turned her gaze away, Qi Han blinked, then chuckled softly and went back to humming.
"The cat and you both want to know"
"Meow?"
Curled up on the partition, Pururu tilted its head, wearing a faintly puzzled, almost human expression.
What exactly does this cat want to know?
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